The UK and Irish governments are planning on holding talks in a bid to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, it has been reported.

The Republic of Ireland's state broadcaster RTE reports that Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and Irish Tanaiste Simon Coveney will hold a joint press conference in Belfast on Friday afternoon to make the announcement.

It is understood the talks will start following the local government election next week, but prior to the European Parliament elections at the end of May.

"These things need to be delivered, and that in itself then paves the way for the institutions to be restored."

Northern Ireland has been without a functioning government since the collapse of power-sharing more than two years ago.

Stormont fell when the then-Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned over the DUP's handling of the botched RHI scheme.

Since then, disagreements over the introduction of an Irish Language Act, legislation on same-sex marriage and legacy issues have been major hurdles in talks on the restoration of Stormont.

In a tweet responding to a Belfast Telegraph story about Sinn Fein calling for an Irish language act, Mrs Foster said: "I respect that Irish is important to those who cherish the language.

I respect that Irish is important to those who cherish the language. But schools & hospitals matter to everyone. Stormont should be restored immediately to deal with key reforms. A parallel all-party talks process can deal with those issues SF wish to raise. https://t.co/hc0PhtVe1N